DIY Glowing Bubble Lamps
Bring science and magic together with these mesmerizing DIY Glowing Bubble Lamps! Made from water, oil, glow pigment, and Alka-Seltzer, they light up under blacklight and bubble like a mini lava lamp—perfect for sensory play, parties, or bedtime ambiance.
Yield: 1 lamp
Cost: 2
Equipment
- glass jar or clear plastic cup
- spoon or stir stick
- blacklight to activate glowing effect
- gloves (optional) for handling highlighter ink safely
Materials
- clear plastic cups or glass jars
- tap water
- vegetable oil or baby oil
- Alka-Seltzer tablets (or generic brand)
- non-toxic glow-in-the-dark paint or fluorescent highlighter ink
- food coloring (optional)
- blacklight
- spoon or stir stick
Instructions
- Fill your jar or cup about 2/3 full with water.
- Mix in a few drops of glow paint or fluorescent ink. Stir well to combine.
- Add a few drops of food coloring if desired to deepen the color.
- Slowly pour vegetable oil over the water until nearly full. Let the layers separate completely.
- Drop in half an Alka-Seltzer tablet. Watch the glowing bubbles rise and fall!
- Turn off the lights and switch on a blacklight to enjoy the glowing effect.
- To reuse, just drop in another piece of Alka-Seltzer whenever you want to relaunch the glow show.
Notes
Use non-toxic glow paint or highlighter ink for the glowing effect. Blacklights enhance visibility best. These are reusable—just drop in more Alka-Seltzer anytime to refresh the bubbling action! Store in a cool, dark place to protect the glow.